Efficient 3-D Visualization of Hybrid Medical Data Sets

Visualization of large data sets, especially on small machines, requires advanced techniques in image processing and image generation. Our hybrid raytracer is capable of rendering volumetric and geometric data simultaneously, without loss of accuracy due to data conversion. Compound data sets, consisting of several types of data, are called "hybrid data sets". There is only one rendering pipeline to obtain loss-less and efficient visualization of hybrid data. Algorithms apply to both types of data. Optical material properties are stored in the same data base for both volumetric and geometric objects, and anti-aliasing methods appeal to both data types. Stereoscopic display routines have been added to obtain true three-dimensional visualization on various media, and animation features allow generation of recordable 3-D sequences.